While Dan Blather, the leftist dolt attempts to regain the publics trust by praising the military, his purpose is defeated, as no one I know watches/listens to the evening news anymore. Expect letters of protest about him showing a soldier smoking on TV to appear in your local paper soon, you can count on that.
What clout does he have to make such a statement? Print it out on some signs, send them to the middle east, and allow the troops additional target practice.